Obituary

Robert Harry Louis Gragert, age 80, of Tillamook, died on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 with his family at his side. He was born on June 29, 1937, in Iuka, Illinois to Elmer F. and Rosemary (Michael) Gragert. Robert (Bob) was the eldest of five brothers and had also resided in Lyons, Kansas; Salem, Illinois; Vernal, Utah; and Ft. Lupton, Colorado. He was a Christian and a current member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tillamook, Oregon. Bob was united in marriage to his sweetheart for life, Marilyn Kay Hance, daughter of Kenneth M. and Edith Hance in Salem, Illinois on July 3, 1957. Bob was employed as a District Manager of a large engineering and construction company, Flint Engineering, for the majority of his career. He was a selfless friend to many - easily making lifelong friends everywhere he went. In fact, he looked forward to and enjoyed his daily coffee routine to South Prairie Store and weekly breakfast with the guys at Dennys, which were perfect opportunities to catch up and exercise his master story telling skills - namely the newest adventures his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were up to. They were his pride and joy and was often overheard chuckling and boasting about them. In his younger years he was an adventurer and avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed the comradery of camping, fishing, and hunting with his brothers and sons. They frequented the Uintah Mountains of Northeastern Utah near Vernal with family and friends. From organizing the trips to cooking up a fabulous camp meal to bringing home an elk - Bob loved it all. He even built custom heirloom fishing rods for family and friends to reel them into more fishing trips. He also enjoyed reading about explorers, mountain men, Native American notables, and historical novels. He would often read on his Kindle and was fairly quick to adapting to new technologies. He was often found in his office sending out emails or playing on a tablet - even keeping up with his family on Facebook. This helped satisfy the interim between the Gragert/Michael family reunions he so enjoyed. Playing epic marathon games of Pinochle and reminiscing with loved ones. Bob had mastered the art of tinkering. He was often puttering in the garage, building and mending chicken pens, mowing the lawn and fields, or gardening - he always had a project. One of the most notable accomplishments of Bob was his love of his wife, Marilyn. Celebrating 60 years of marriage this summer - his tender love and care for her was easily and often seen by all. A shining example and true testament of a Godly marriage. Bob was an extraordinary man. He was a cultivator - of gardens and relationships alike. He is a man that will be forever missed and giver of memories always cherished. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, of Tillamook; children, David Gragert and Dianna (Bachman) of Thornton, Colorado, Barbara (Gragert) Johnson and Rod of Tillamook, and Donald Gragert and Denise (Stoddart) of Greeley, Colorado; six grand-children and seven great-grandchildren, Shara (Johnson) and Rusty Robertson, Paige Robertson; Jill (Johnson) and Chris Ingram, Avery, all of Tillamook, Jeff Gragert and Amber (Bailey), Josiah, Jude and Jedrek of Lindale, Texas, Matt Gragert and Stephanie Gragert of Greeley, Colorado; Rebecca (Gragert) and Orrin Schaeffer, Myra and Maverick, of Frederick, Colorado; Sisters-in-law, Sharon Gragert of Billings, Montana, Irene Biggs of Allen, Oklahoma, and Karen Gragert of Tillamook, as well as several nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his four brothers, Charles Gragert, Mike Gragert, Don Gragert, Eldon Gragert and wife Audrey (Snook) Gragert. A memorial service for Robert Gragert will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 20, 2017 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 302 Grove Avenue, Tillamook, OR 97141, with Reverend J. Wesley Beck, presiding. For those who wish, memorials may be sent to Redeemer Lutheran Church at the above address or to the Gideons International, PO Box 501, Tillamook, OR 97141.

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Robert Harry Louis Gragert, age 80, of Tillamook, died on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 with his family at his side. He was born on June 29, 1937, in Iuka, Illinois to Elmer F. and Rosemary (Michael) Gragert. Robert (Bob) was the eldest of five brothers and had also resided in Lyons, Kansas; Salem, Illinois; Vernal, Utah; and Ft. Lupton, Colorado. He was a Christian and a current member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tillamook, Oregon. Bob was united in marriage to his sweetheart for life, Marilyn Kay Hance, daughter of Kenneth M. and Edith Hance in Salem, Illinois on July 3, 1957. Bob was employed as a District Manager of a large engineering and construction company, Flint Engineering, for the majority of his career. He was a selfless friend to many - easily making lifelong friends everywhere he went. In fact, he looked forward to and enjoyed his daily coffee routine to South Prairie Store and weekly breakfast with the guys at Dennys, which were perfect opportunities to catch up and exercise his master story telling skills - namely the newest adventures his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were up to. They were his pride and joy and was often overheard chuckling and boasting about them. In his younger years he was an adventurer and avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed the comradery of camping, fishing, and hunting with his brothers and sons. They frequented the Uintah Mountains of Northeastern Utah near Vernal with family and friends. From organizing the trips to cooking up a fabulous camp meal to bringing home an elk - Bob loved it all. He even built custom heirloom fishing rods for family and friends to reel them into more fishing trips. He also enjoyed reading about explorers, mountain men, Native American notables, and historical novels. He would often read on his Kindle and was fairly quick to adapting to new technologies. He was often found in his office sending out emails or playing on a tablet - even keeping up with his family on Facebook. This helped satisfy the interim between the Gragert/Michael family reunions he so enjoyed. Playing epic marathon games of Pinochle and reminiscing with loved ones. Bob had mastered the art of tinkering. He was often puttering in the garage, building and mending chicken pens, mowing the lawn and fields, or gardening - he always had a project. One of the most notable accomplishments of Bob was his love of his wife, Marilyn. Celebrating 60 years of marriage this summer - his tender love and care for her was easily and often seen by all. A shining example and true testament of a Godly marriage. Bob was an extraordinary man. He was a cultivator - of gardens and relationships alike. He is a man that will be forever missed and giver of memories always cherished. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, of Tillamook; children, David Gragert and Dianna (Bachman) of Thornton, Colorado, Barbara (Gragert) Johnson and Rod of Tillamook, and Donald Gragert and Denise (Stoddart) of Greeley, Colorado; six grand-children and seven great-grandchildren, Shara (Johnson) and Rusty Robertson, Paige Robertson; Jill (Johnson) and Chris Ingram, Avery, all of Tillamook, Jeff Gragert and Amber (Bailey), Josiah, Jude and Jedrek of Lindale, Texas, Matt Gragert and Stephanie Gragert of Greeley, Colorado; Rebecca (Gragert) and Orrin Schaeffer, Myra and Maverick, of Frederick, Colorado; Sisters-in-law, Sharon Gragert of Billings, Montana, Irene Biggs of Allen, Oklahoma, and Karen Gragert of Tillamook, as well as several nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his four brothers, Charles Gragert, Mike Gragert, Don Gragert, Eldon Gragert and wife Audrey (Snook) Gragert. A memorial service for Robert Gragert will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 20, 2017 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 302 Grove Avenue, Tillamook, OR 97141, with Reverend J. Wesley Beck, presiding. For those who wish, memorials may be sent to Redeemer Lutheran Church at the above address or to the Gideons International, PO Box 501, Tillamook, OR 97141.